Every Alabama notary must carry a $50,000 surety bond before performing any official act. You buy the bond from a surety company licensed in Alabama, then file it with the probate judge in your county of residence so it can be approved and recorded. The requirement comes from Alabama Code Section 36-20-71 and applies to first-time applicants and renewals alike.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-71 – Bond
What the Bond Is and What It Protects
The $50,000 figure is set by statute and does not change based on how many documents you expect to notarize.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-71 – Bond The bond is payable to the State of Alabama and exists to protect members of the public who suffer financial harm because of a notary’s error or misconduct.
A surety bond is not insurance for you. It involves three parties: you as the principal, the surety company that guarantees payment, and the State of Alabama as the obligee. If a claim is paid, the surety can turn around and recover that money from you personally, along with its legal costs. In other words, the bond gives the public a way to collect, but it does not shield you from the cost of your own mistakes.
Who Can Get One
Before a probate judge will approve your bond, you have to qualify under Alabama Code Section 36-20-70. The judge must deny the application if any of these apply:2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-70 – Appointment and Commission of Notaries Public
- You are not an Alabama resident, or you are not applying in the county where you live.
- You have been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude.
- You are a current party to a bankruptcy proceeding.
- You are under a court order adjudicating you incapacitated.
- You provided false information on the application.
- You are unwilling or unable to complete the required training within 30 days.
Since September 1, 2023, every applicant must finish a pre-commission training program prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-70 – Appointment and Commission of Notaries Public Licensed attorneys are exempt. You present the completion certificate at the probate office along with your bond, so time the training to line up with your filing.3Alabama Probate Judges Association. Notary Public – Alabama Probate Judges Association
Buying the Bond
After the probate judge approves your application and issues the approval letter, you need a bond from a surety company authorized by the Alabama Department of Insurance. Some applicants work with a local insurance agent; others use an online surety provider. Confirm the company’s Alabama authorization before paying.
To issue the bond, the surety will ask for your full legal name exactly as it appears on your notary application, your residential address, and your county of residence.4Alabama Probate Judges Association. State of Alabama Application for Notary Public Commission Most run a basic background check during underwriting.
The premium is modest. Expect roughly $50 to $100 for the full four-year term, depending on the company and your credit. The premium is paid upfront and is generally nonrefundable. When the bond document arrives, check that the coverage amount reads $50,000, that your name matches your application exactly, and that an authorized representative of the surety has signed it. A mismatch between the bond and your application will hold up your commission.
Filing the Bond With the Probate Judge
Take the signed bond and your training completion certificate to the probate judge in your county of residence.3Alabama Probate Judges Association. Notary Public – Alabama Probate Judges Association The statute requires the bond to be filed and recorded there before you enter on the duties of office, so filing in any other county will stop your commission from going through.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-71 – Bond
You have 40 days from the date on the approval letter to file the bond and present your certificate. Miss that window and you will typically have to restart the application and pay the fees again.5Montgomery County Probate Court. Notary Information
Fees at the Probate Office
Alabama Code Section 36-20-70 sets a $100 commission fee payable to the probate judge.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-70 – Appointment and Commission of Notaries Public Counties add their own recording, bond approval, and administrative charges on top. Montgomery County charges $59 in combined recording and administrative fees,5Montgomery County Probate Court. Notary Information and Madison County’s filing fee is $75.25.6Madison County, AL. Notary Commissions Your total at the probate office will likely land between $150 and $180 once the commission fee and local charges are combined. Call your county’s probate office before you go to confirm the exact amount and payment methods.
What Happens After You File
The probate judge reviews the bond, verifies the $50,000 amount and the surety’s license, and records the bond in county records. Once everything checks out, the judge notifies the Secretary of State and issues your commission.3Alabama Probate Judges Association. Notary Public – Alabama Probate Judges Association You can then buy your official seal and start notarizing.
What a Claim Against the Bond Means for You
If someone is financially harmed by your notarial work, they can file a claim against the bond. The surety investigates and, if the claim is valid, pays the claimant up to $50,000. You then owe the surety every dollar it paid out, plus its legal and investigation costs, because the indemnity agreement you signed to get the bond makes that debt personal.
Alabama law frames the duty the same way: a notary is not an insurer, but must act honestly, skillfully, and with reasonable diligence.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-70 – Appointment and Commission of Notaries Public Proper identification of signers and careful recordkeeping are the practical defense against ever having to find out how indemnity works in real life.
Renewing the Bond
An Alabama notary commission runs four years from the date it is issued, and nothing renews automatically.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 36-20-70 – Appointment and Commission of Notaries Public At the end of the term you repeat the whole process: new application, new $50,000 bond, training again, and the fees at the probate office. The old bond covers only its original term, so notarizing on an expired commission leaves you personally exposed with no surety behind you. The 30-day training window and 40-day filing deadline apply to renewals the same way they apply to first-time applicants, so start early enough to avoid any gap in your authority.